Toy cannon with separable front and rear barrel sections



Sept. 5, 1967 M. l. GLASS ET AL 3,339,536

TOY CANNON WITH SEPARABLE FRONT AND REAR BARREL. SECTIONS Filed April 16, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 5, 1967 GLASS ET AL 3,339,536

TOY CANNON WITH ,SEFARABLE FRONT AND REAR BARREL SECTIONS United States Patent Ill., a partnership Filed Apr. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 448,659

8 Claims. (Cl. 124-29) The present invention relates to a toy and is particularly directed to a toy cannon which is capable of firing a projectile and has its tube in two sections with the forward portion being movable to a position overlying the rear portion.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a novel toy cannon wherein the tube or barrel is movably mounted on a supporting structure and comprises two relatively movable sections. A f-urther object of the invention is to provide a toy cannon wherein the forward portion of the tube is relatively movable to a position overlying the rearward section, to thereby make the cannon structure more compact for purposes of concealment and camouflage. Still another object of the invention is to provide a toy cannon of the type described above with means for moving the cannon about vertical and horizontal axes for aiming and with means for firing a projectile and for automatically ejecting the shell casing of the projectile as the breech is opened. Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the selected embodiment shown in the drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the toy cannon in its compact inoperative position;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view, cannon in its operative position;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged exploded view of the twopiece shell structure used with the cannon;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged longitudinal scetional view of the cannon, taken along the line 4-4 in FIGURE 2, with parts omitted and broken away;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 55 in FIGURE 2 with portions broken away;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 4, with the firing mechanism shown in the cocked position;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 9 is an exploded perspective view of tion of the firing mechanism seen in FIGURES 5 showing the a porand 6;

and

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the sound mechanism seen in FIGURE 5.

As seen particularly in FIGURES l and 2, the selected embodiment of this invention comprises a toy cannon 12 generally simulating a relatively large cannon of the type which may be mobile but is generally intended for semipermanent emplacement. The cannon structure includes a relatively large base 14 having radially extending arm portions 16 to provide greater stability for the cannon during firing. During firing operations the tube or barrel 18 of the cannon extends a substantial distance beyond the base structure and, in order to reduce this distance and afford easier concealment and camouflage of the gun, the tube of the gun is made collapsible as seen in FIGURE 1. The forward tube portion 20 is carried by a pair of links 22, 24 pivoted on the rearward tube portion 26, and means are provided for swinging the links 22, 24 through vertical arcs to thereby place the forward portion 20 either in its extended operative position (FIGURE 2) or in overlying relation to the rear- 48, is disposed between movement of the gun tube 18 about a horizontal axis for ward portion 26 of the gun (FIGURE 1). The gun includes an openable breech structure 28 affording insertion of a semifixed type of shell 30. A firing mechanism 32 within the gun, seen particularly in FIGURES 4 and 6, is operable to propel the forward projectile portion 31 of the shell from the forward end of the tube, and the subsequent opening of the breech 28 is accompanied by an ejecting motion of the shell casing 34. Rotatable crank means are provided on the gun for effecting vertical swinging movement of the gun, for moving the forward tube portion between the positions shown in FIG- URES l and 2, and for cocking the firing mechanism in readiness for operation by movement of a trigger at the rear of the gun.

With reference particularly to FIGURE 5, it will be noted that the gun supporting base structure 14 includes an annular opening 36 in a vertically extending central portion 38 of the structure, and the flange portion 40 defining this opening receives a depending portion of the tube structure in a manner affording rotation of the tube structure about a vertical axis. More particularly, a circular flange portion42 of a housing 44 at the bottom side of the tube structure is received within the aunula-r opening 40 in the base for support by a plurality of ribs 46, and a suitable bearing, such as a circular wire the two flanges to facilitate the rotation of the tube structure. The housing 44 extends upwardly in telescoping relation to a depending portion 48 of the gun tube and is pivotally connected to the latter by a transverse shaft 50 so as to provide for relative The elevation of the tube is effected a crank 52 fixed to the outer end of a transverse shaft 54 journalled in the housing. Also fixed to this shaft, within the housing 44 is a gear 55 which engages a larger gear 56 comprising one of a series of gears indicated at 58, 60, 62 with the last gear 62 disposed in meshing engagement with an arcuate rack 64 fixed to the depending portion 48 of the tube structure. Consequently, rotation of the gear 62 causes relative movement of rack 64 and vertical swinging movement of the gun tube structure.

With reference also to FIGURE 7, it will be seen that the relative movement of the front tube section 20 is elevating the tube. by the rotation of 0 effected by rotation of a second crank 66 on the right side of the gun. This crank is fixed to the outer end of the pivot shaft 50 which also has fixed thereto a pinion gear 68 disposed in meshing engagement with a large] gear 70 rotatably mounted on the side of the housing 48 A smaller gear 72, concentric with the larger gear 70 ant rotatable therewith, is in meshing engagement with gear 7-4 fixed to a shaft 76 on which the lower end 0 links 22 are keyed. The stub shaft 76 is suitably journalle in the housing 48 and in the gear cover plate 78 (FIG URE 5). Consequently, turning motion of the handle 6 on the right side of the gun moves the pairs of links 21 24 through a vertical path and thereby effects movemei of the front tube section 20 relative to the rear tube se tion 26.

The firing mechanism 32 disposed within the rear tul section 26 comprises generally a slide 80 (FIGURE S which is fixed to an elongated rack 82 having depende toothed portions. The slide 80 is supported on an elo gated channel shaped member 84 (FIGURE 5) exten ing substantially the entire length of the rear tube secti and fixed in position at its opposite ends by screws or the like. The hollow portion of the channel 84 receiw a tension spring 88, which is fixed at its forward end the forward end of the channel and at its rearward end a pin on the slide, thereby urging the latter to a f wardmost position in the gun tube 26. The slide 80 l fixed thereto a hook or latch 92, preferably of spring metal, including a rearwardly tapered end portion 94 for engagement with the rearward tile, as seen in against the rear shoulder portion 'cated in FIGURE 6.

The spring biased slide 80 which effects the propulsion of the projectile 32 from the gun tube is moved from its relaxed or inoperative position, shown in FIGURE 4, to its cocked or operative position, shown in FIGURE 6, by mechanism including a rotatable crank 98 on the left fixed to a shaft 100 which pro ects inwardly of the housing 48 and is journalled in larger gear 104. The shaft 100 is concentric with the pivot shaft previously discussed but is of larger diameter and includes an axial opening at its inner end telescopically engaging the inner end of smaller diameter shaft 50. Also mounted within the housing 48 for pivotal movement the slide 80. In this respect, it is to be noted that there is a safety feature for the gun which makes it necessary for the tube sections 22, 26 to be in their operative position (FIGURE 2) before the fir'ng mechanism 32 can be readied for firing. Plate 106, which rotatably supports gears 108 and 104 so that the two rotate together about a supporting shaft 110, is pivoted on shaft 100 for movement relative thereto. Consequently, initial rotation of shaft 100 and gear 102 normally causes the plate 106 to swing upwardly from its lower position seen in FIGURE 6 to its upper position wherein gear 108 engages rack 82, as seen in FIGURE 4. Continued rotation of gear 102, through turning of crank 98, causes movement of slide 80 rearwardly and cocking of the firing mechanism, in a manner to be described. However, there is also provided a cam 112 which is fixed to shaft 76 for rotation therewith relative to a position in the path of a pin 114 on plate 106. When the tube sections are aligned for firing (FIGURE 6), the cam 112 is spaced from pin 114 to permit the described upward movement of plate 106 and engagement of gear 108 with rack 82. However, if the tube sections are not aligned, the position of links 22, 24 and shaft 76 will be such that :am 112 will overlie pin 114 and prevent upward movement of plate 106. In the latter case, gear 108 will not :ngage rack 82 and will rotate freely.

When gear 108 has been moved into engagement with he rack 82, further rotation of the handle 98 causes the ack 82 to be moved rearwardly against the action of he spring 88, until a depending shoulder portion 116 at he rear of the rack latches with a shoulder 118 on the rigger 120. As the rack 82 becomes latched to the trigger 20, the rack moves away from the gear 108 and the :lease of turning movement of crank 98 permits the [ates 106 to pivot downwardly and rest on shaft 76 carryig cam 112, thereby placing gear 108 below the path movement of rack 82. Consequently, when the gun fired and rack 82 moves forwardly with slide 80 it free of gear 108.

The trigger 120 is generally an elongated member pivally mounted within the gun on a cross shaft or pin 122,

d a spring 124 is fixed on the shaft 122 in encircling lation thereto and disposed with the free end of the By pushing downwardly on the outer end 126 of the trigger, the slide is unlatched to move forwardly under the action of spring 88 and propel the projectile from the gun.

There is also provided a sound mechanism for producing a simulated explosion following the firing of the projectile from the tube. This sound mechanism includes a diaphragm 130 fixed within the base structure 38 in position for striking by an overlying, spring biased hammer 132. As seen in FIGURE 10, the hammer 132 is an elongated element with a circular fiat portion 134 at one end and including a pair of elongated slots 136, 138. The slots 136, 138 receive the shafts 50 and 54, respectively, so as to position the hammer 132 and guide it in its downward striking movement against the diaphragm 130. The upper end of the hammer 132 is connected with the slide 80 by a flexible element 140 affording relative movement between these two parts, and the hammer 132 is biased downwardly by means of a coiled tension spring 142 fixed at one end to the upper end of the hammer and secured at its other end to a wall portion 144 of the housing. As the slide 80 is moved rearwardly, the hammer 132 is pulled upwardly by means of the flexible member 140 to its elevated position (FIGURE 5), and the final rearward movement of the slide 80 causes the notch or groove 146 at the lower end of the upper slot to engage the shaft 50 and thereby hold the hammer 132 in its elevated position. The firing of the gun and the accompanying forward movement of the slide 80 pulls the hammer 132 sufficiently forward to disengage the notch 146 from the shaft 50 and the biasing action of the spring 142 forces the hammer 132 downwardly to strike against the diaphragm 130. It is particularly noteworthy that the sound resulting from this The breech of the cannon includes an openable door 150 which is pivotally mounted at one side on the rear of the tube for swinging movement relative to an opening 152 and through which opening shell 30 is inserted. The shell casing 34 (FIGURES 3 and 6) has an enlarged rear flange portion 154 which engages a circular part 156 within the breech and moves this part slightly forwardly against the biasing action of a coil spring 158. The spring 158 is disposed in encircling relation to a guide rod 160 which supports the circular part 156 and is slidably mounted in a pair of brackets 162, 164 having aligned openings therein. When the shell is thus posias elevation of the tube and at a target, the firing of the the accompaniment of a dea real cannon, such of the tube to aim projectile from the tube to layed explosition sound, the ejection of the shell casing automatically as the breech is opened, and also provides the novel action of the relatively movable front tube section to produce a more compact structure affording easler concealment of the cannon as beneath a relatively smaller camouflage net. Although shown and described with respect to particular structure, it will be apparent that various modifications might be made without departing from the principles of this invention.

What is claimedis; v

'1. A toy cannon comprising a supporting mount structure, a tube structure carried by said mount structure for movement relative thereto in both horizontal and vertical directions, said tube comprising a front section and a rear section, and means connecting said front and rear sections in a manner providing for relative movement of said front section between an operative position of axial alignment and a position wherein said front tube section is disposed in overlying relation to said rear section.

2. A connon comprising a supporting mount structure, a gun tube structure carried by said mount structure for movement relative thereto in both horizontal and vertical directions, said gun tube comprising a front section and a rear section, linkage means connecting said front and rear sections in a manner providing for relative movement of said front section between an operative position of axial alignment and a position wherein said front tube section is disposed in overlying relation to said rear section, firing mechanism in said cannon for propelling a projectile from said tube, and means associated with said linkage means and said firing mechanism and operable to prevent operation of said firing mechanism when said front and rear tube sections are not operatively positioned in axial alignment.

3. A toy cannon comprising a supporting mount structure, a hollow tube structure carried by said mount structure for movement relative thereto in both horizontal and vertical directions, said hollow tube comprising a front section and a rear section, means connecting said front and rear sections in a manner providing for relative movement of said front section between an operative position of axial alignment and a position wherein said front tube section is disposed in overlying relation to said rear section, spring operated firing mechanism within said tube structure, means at the rear of said tube structure for receiving a shell which comprises a casing portion and a projectile portion, a breech door pivotally mounted on the rear of said hollow tube structure, said firing mechanism being operable to propel said projectile portion from said tube, and said shell receiving means and said breech door being constructed and arranged so that the opening of said door after the firing of said projectile is effective to eject said casing portion from the rear of the tube.

4. A toy cannon comprising a supporting mount structure, a tube structure carried by said mount structure for movement relative thereto, said tube structure comprising a front section and a rear section, said rear section including an openable breech and spring actuated firing mechanism for propelling a projectile from the tube, means connecting said front tube section with said rear tube section for relative movement of said front section between an operative position of axial alignment and a position overlying said rear section, said tube structure connecting means including linkage means and manually operable gear drive mechanism for effecting said movement of the front tube section, additional gear drive means for conditioning said firing mechanism in readiness for release to propel a projectile from the tube, and means for rendering said additional gear drive means inoperative when said tube structure sections are not aligned.

5. A cannon comprising a supporting mount structure, a tube structure carried by said mount structure for movement relative thereto, said tube structure comprising a front section and a rear section, said rear section including an openable breech and spring actuated firing mechanism for propelling a shell from the tube, means connecting said front tube section with said rear tube section for movement of said front section between an operative position of axial alignment and a position overlying said rear section, said tube structure connecting means including linkage means and manually operable gear drive mechanism for effecting said movement of the front tube section, said firing mechanism comprising a slide movable between fore and aft positions within said rear tube section, a spring positioned to urge said slide toward said fore position, latch means for releasably holding said slide in said aft position, and gear drive means operable to move said slide from said fore position to said aft position, and means on said mount structure and on said tube structure providing for relative movement of said tube structure about a generally horizontal axis and also about a generally vertical axis.

6. A toy cannon comprising a supporting mount structure, a tube structure carried by said mount structure for movement relative thereto, a gear drive mechanism interconnecting said mount structure and tube structure and operable to move said tube in both vertical and horizontal directions relative to said mount structure, sound making mechanism within said cannon and comprising a sounding diaphragm and hammer carried by said cannon for striking movement against said diaphragm, said tube structure comprising a front section and a rear section, means on said cannon connecting said front section to said rear section for relative movement of said front section between an operative position of axial alignment and an inoperative position overlying said rear section, firing mechanism within said rear tube section including a relatively movable element for propelling a projectile from said tube, spring means connected with said element and urging the latter toward a forward position, trigger means for releasably holding said element in a rearward position against the biasing action of said spring, and means connecting said firing mechanism and hammer for striking movement of the latter against said diaphragm in response to release of said trigger means so as to cause said element to move forwardly in its projectile propelling action.

7. A toy cannon comprising a supporting mount structure, a tube structure carried by said mount structure for movement relative thereto, mechanism interconnecting said mount structure and tube structure and operable to move said tube structure in both vertical and horizontal directions relative to said mount structure, sound making mechanism within said cannon and comprising a sounding diaphragm and hammer carried by said cannon for striking movement against said diaphragm, said tube structure comprising a front section and a rear section, means on said cannon connecting said front section to said rear section for relative movement of said front section between an operative position of axial alignment and an inoperative position overlying said rear section, firing mechanism within said rear tube section including a relatively movable element for propelling a shell from said tube, spring means connected with said element and urging the latter toward a forward position, and trigger means for releasably holding said element in a rearward position against the biasing action of said spring, and a lost motion means connecting said firing mechanism and hammer for effecting striking movement of the latter against said diaphragm after release of said element by said trigger means so as to produce a sound after said element has moved forwardly in its projectile propelling action.

8. A toy cannon comprising a supporting mount structure, a tube structure carried by said mount structure for movement relative thereto, a gear drive mechanism interconnecting said mount structure and tube and operable to move said tube in a vertical direction relative to said mount structure, sound making mechanism within said cannon and comprising a sounding diaphragm and hammer carried by said cannon for striking movement against said diaphragm, said tube comprising a front section and a rear section, means on said cannon connecting said front section to said rear section for relative movement of said front section between an operative position of axial alignment and an inoperative position overlying said rear section, firing mechanism within said rear tube section including a relatively movable element for propelling a projectile from said tube, spring means connected with said element and urging the latter toward a forward position, gear and rack means operable to move said element rearwardly against the biasing action of said spring means, and trigger means for releasably holding said element in a rearward position against the biasing action of said spring, means connecting said firing mechanism and hammer for striking movement of the latter against said diaphragm in response to release of said trigger means so as to cause said element to move forwardly in its projectile propelling action, and means for rendering said firing mechanism inoperative when said tube sections are not in axial alignment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 936,689 10/1909 Wood 12429 1,306,584 6/1919 Droege et a1 124-39 X 1,680,077 8/1928 Allender 12429 2,909,000 10/1959 Wheeler 46-191 3,111,121 11/1963 Baggott 273-106 X FOREIGN PATENTS 507,508 11/1954 Canada.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

W. R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TOY CANNON COMPRISING A SUPPORTING MOUNT STRUCTURE, A TUBE STRUCTURE CARRIED BY SAID MOUNT STRUCTURE FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO IN BOTH HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL DIRECTIONS, SAID TUBE COMPRISING A FRONT SECTION AND A REAR SECTION, AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID FRONT AND REAR SECTIONS IN A MANNER PROVIDING FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID FRONT SECTION BETWEEN AN OPERATIVE POSITION OF AXIAL ALIGNMENT AND A POSITION WHEREIN SAID FRONT TUBE SECTION IS DISPOSED IN OVERLYING RELATION TO SAID REAR SECTION. 